Comments on: A Premature Playoff Conversation

By: David

David — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:19:02 +0000

In reply to Scott. Clemson goes undefeated! We are in.

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:37:34 +0000

How about an update after the Utah & Fla St losses?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 01:06:41 +0000

BTW that pic of Desmond makes me want to puke! He can shove that thumb where the sun doesn’t shine!!!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 01:00:17 +0000

Why are we talking about this!??!?! There is way to much that is going to happen before then!!! Why not do an recruiting update or how the recruits liked the SC game instead. Playoffs are a long shot anyways!! Let’s hold this conversation until after the Stanford game and see where we are.

By: a68domer

a68domer — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 00:11:10 +0000

ND is still in the mix! Two undefeated teams in the top ten lost this week (Utah & FSU) – beaten by teams that already lost to the IRISH. Up to #9 in both polls, we just have to be patient and keep winning. Both Temple and Pitt are now both in the top 20 – sure can’t hurt our SOS. The first real poll comes out Nov 3. GO IRISH!!

By: kjnrun

kjnrun — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 23:51:02 +0000

We will need a follow up article now that Utah and Florida State lost. The window to the playoff is open a little bit more today for the Irish.

By: Jack G.

Jack G. — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 17:24:53 +0000

Notre Dame has a shot at the playoffs, but it’s a long shot.
1. ND must win all of its remaining games. 10-2 won’t cut it.
2. Two of the Power Five champions must be left out, and that’s the long shot. However, the PAC 12 will be eliminated (if ND wins out, thanks to Utah’s loss to USC), thus, one other conference champion must be left out.
3. Though it is possible, at this point it remains inconceivable that the champions of the SEC, Big 10 and Big 12 are left out if they have only 1-loss, especially the latter because of last year’s snub. The ACC is ND’s likely last hope, but there it becomes even more complicated because of ND’s loss to Clemson.
4. It all comes down to this: ND must measure up better against the ACC champion, hoping that the latter is left out. But the obvious complication is ND’s loss to Clemson. Some (Heather Dinich of ESPN) maintain that ND should hope for Clemson “to keep rolling”, i.e. undefeated, so that ND’s loss to Clemson looks like a “good loss”, but again, there would have to be quite a bit of shakeup in the other conferences to have their champions eliminated in favor of ND, so I’m not so sure that we should cheer for Clemson. FSU’s loss to Georgia Tech was a big help. Now, should we hope that FSU beats Clemson or vice versa? I’m thinking that we should want FSU to beat Clemson, and have FSU be the ACC Atlantic champion, hoping that ND looks better than FSU to the committee, but that all depends on how the remaining games shake out. FSU must also play Florida, so they could be 10-2 at the end. Of course, in a perfect world, Pittsburgh would win out (except for ND game) and beat FSU or Clemson in the ACC championship. That would give ND its best shot, but a long shot…

By: NCHDomer

NCHDomer — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 15:23:18 +0000

Given the weekend results and the improved second half schedule now that Temple, Pitt and Stanford are ranked, a scenario exists for the 4 teams to be OSU/MSU, Alabama/LSU, TCU/Clemson and ND. Of course, ND needs to win out in order to have any chance to be in the conversation and our former QB must help out his alma mater by beating Clemson. Sadly for their QB, Baylor may be starting a new QB like ND has had to do and that may be the edge TCU or Oklahoma needs to sneak into the playoff. USC helped out ND by beating Utah, as did Georgia Tech by beating FSU. As a result, not only did they likely put 2 schools in a position to take a playoff spot from ND behind ND but they also bolstered the quality of ND’s resume. Alabama seems to be the class of the teams that could make the playoffs. Same for OSU if it beats MSU and Michigan. Regardless, it’s a tall order for ND to make playoffs. But at least the team remains in the hunt.

By: NDBonecrusher

NDBonecrusher — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 12:16:34 +0000

In reply to Jason. Jason I don't necessarily agree with your Dad, but given NDs strength of schedule for the balance of the season, if ND wins out it is difficult for me to envision that they will not be a playoff team. The number of teams ranked higher than ND that have yet to play each other makes (I think) it mathematically impossible to have many undefeated teams by year's end. And if ND wins out, that would mean 3 road victories against ranked teams. I don't know if they can do it. But if they can, I think we will be exploring how to get our hands on playoff tix.

By: dick

dick — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 14:05:16 +0000

Win out and we have a good chance. Need to beat the Pac 12 champ so it has to be Stanford. The teams in front of us will knock each other out. UM can beat OSU.